Amphibious dredge



Oct. 7, 1969 R. M. soEHNLEN AMPHIBIOUS DREDGE Filed June 20, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet l lill( l Oct. 7, 1969 R. M. soEHNLEN AMPHIBIOUS 'DREDGE 2Sheets-Sheet t Filed June 20, 1967 /2 Il? /lg 7 97 United States PatentO 3,470,633 AMPHIBIOUS DREDGE Robert M. Soehnlen, Beloit, Wis., assignerto Beloit Pipe and Dredge, Inc., Beloit, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Filed June 20, 1967, Ser. No. 647,494 Int. Cl. E02t 3/88, 3/62U.S. Cl. 37-67 11 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Background Thepresent invention pertains to dredges and more particularly to dredgesof the type having7 bottom spud anchors.

Dredges, as presently known, are machines for scooping or removingearth, as in excavating or deepening streams or channels. Among thechief kinds of dredging machines are dipper dredges, dragline dredges,and hydraulic dredges. A hydraulic dredge generally utilizes acentrifugal pump and a suction tube to draw mud or saturated sand from achannel, or the like, and to discharge it on the shore or elsewhere.

Generally, the excavating apparatus is carried on a barge, large raft,or the like, to provide adequate support in the water. Some means isprovided for moving the dredge through the water, for example, walkingspuds. Since the dredge is bulky, many are permanently located on a bodyof water. Some others are arranged for transportation from one point ofuse to another, as by a truck. This may require a partial disassembly ofthe dredge.

Summary The present invention relates generally to dredges and moreparticularly to an improved dredge having bottom spud anchors. Thedredge has new and useful means for moving the spuds from a storageposition to an upright position for anchoring the dredge. The dredge iscapable of self-propulsion both over land and through water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dredge which iseasily moved from one point of use to another.

Another object is to provide a dredge in accordance with the aboveobject and which is amphibious, being capable of self-propulsion bothover land and through water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dredge whereinthe spuds are tiltable between an upright position and a storageposition.

Still another object is to provide a dredge in accordance with theforegoing object wherein the spuds are easily moved from the storageposition to the upright position.

These, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, willbecome apparent as the same becomes better understood from the followingdescription when taken with the accompanying drawings:

Drawings FIGURE l is a side view of an embodiment of the presentinvention floating on a body of water, with the spud and ladderpositioned for the dredging operation,

ICC

and with moved positions shown in the broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with some parts brokenaway for better illustration;

FIG. 3 is a view, partly sectional and partly elevational, takengenerally along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 and on a larger scale;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 2and on a larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system utilized in thepresent invention.

Description Referring more specifically to the drawings, the dredgeshown therein includes a hull 11 having a central bottom plate 12, asloping bow bottom plate 13, a sloping stern bottom plate 14, side walls15, a small forward deck 16, and a rear deck 17.

Built integrally with each of the side walls 15 is a pontoon 20 (seeFIG. l). Mounted about each pontoon 20 is a track mechanism, generallydesignated 21, which includes a series of bogie wheels 22 provided alongthe lower edge of the pontoon, a pair of idler members 23 mounted on topof the pontoon, an idler sprocket 24 mounted on the front upper cornerof the pontoon, a drive sprocket 25 at the rear of the pontoon, and atrack belt 26 which is entrained about the sprockets 24 and 25, members23 and bogie wheels 22. The belt 26 has a series of grousers 27 forengaging the ground when the dredge is driven over land and for engagingthe water when the dredge is aoat. Thus, the dredge is propelled bothover land and through water when the tracks 26 are actuated.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an engine 30 is mounted on the hull andoperates to selectively drive the track mechanism 21 through a clutch31, drive shaft 32, auxiliary drive 33, transmission 34, differential35, and shafts 36 and 37 at the ends of which are mounted the drivesprockets 25. Shafts 36 and 37 are provided with brakes 38 and 39,respectively, which are mechanically operated in the usual manner bycontrols (not shown) adjacent an operators seat 41 at the bow of thedredge. Brakes 38 and 39 are selectively operable to retard the rotationof shaft 36 or 37 and reduce or stop the operation of the respectivetrack driven thereby. In this manner, the dredge is steered when drivenover land or through the water. Obviously, both brakes may besimultaneously operated to stop the dredge, when desired. The clutch 31is provided with a control lever 31a located adjacent the operators seat41.

As illustrated in FIG. 2., a radiator 42 is provided for cooling theengine 30 in the usual manner. At the opposite end of the motor 30 is acentrifugal pump 44 for use in the dredging operation hereafterdescribed. The pump 44 is driven by drive shaft 32 and a mechanism 45 isprovided to conveniently disconnect this driving connection whendesired. Auxiliary drive 33 includes a chain take-off 33a from shaft 32,a longitudinal extending shaft 33b, and a second chair take-off 33ewhich extends from shaft 33b to shaft 33d at the transmission 34.

For the dredging operation, the hull 11 is movably anchored by spuds,indicated at 50 and 50". The spuds 50, 50' are respectively mounted inspud carriers, generally designated 52, 52 and hereafter described indetail. As will be understood by those familiar with this art, the spudsare alternately raised when it is desired to advance the dredge, theanchored spud then serving as a pivot around which the dredge swingsduring the dredging operation.

At the bow of the dredge is pivotally mounted a ladder, generallydesignated 55. In the embodiment illustrated, the ladder is of theA-frame type and includes side members 56 and 57 and a cross member 58.'Ihe side members 56 and 57 are pivotally mounted on the hull 11 as at61 and 62, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, a ram 64 is connected tothe hull and the ladder for lowering the ladder for the dredgingoperation yand for raising the ladder at least to a level below thelower run of the track mechanism 21 for driving the dredge over land. Atypical moved position of the ladder 55 is shown in phantom in FIG. 1.The ladder 55 is arranged to carry mechanism for excavating material. Inthe embodiment illustrated, a cutter 66 is rotatably Imounted at theouter end of the ladder 55. A reversible hydraulic motor 68 is mountedon cross member 58 and rotates the cutter 66 through shaft 69. A suctiontube 72 (see FIG. 2) is carried by the ladder and extends from a pointadjacent the cutter 66 to a flexible coupling 74 which joins with inletpipe 76 of centrifugal pump 44. The pump 44 has an outlet pipe 78 whichextends to the stern of the dredge and to which other pipes or the likemay be connected to discharge the material on the bank, in a barge, orelsewhere as desired.

A pair of pulleys 81 and 82 are mounted on side members 56 and 57,respectively, adjacent the outer end of the ladder. A cable 83 having asand anchor 84 at its outer end, extends around pulley 81 to a winch 85mounted on forward deck 16. Similarly, a second sand anchor (not shown)is secured to cable 86 which extends around pulley 82 and is secured toanother winch 87 mounted adjacent the other side of forward deck 16.During the dredging operation, the Winches 85 and 87 are selectivelyoperated to pull their respective cables and to swing the dredge fromone side to the other about the anchoring spud 50 or 50. In this manner,the cutter 66 is swung in an arc about the anchoring spud to perform theexcavation of material.

For driving the dredge over land, the spuds 50 are moved from theirupright or anchoring position illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 1 and2, to a storage position overlying the hull as shown in phantom lines.For this purpose, the spud carriers 52 and 52 are pivotally mounted onthe hull for movement between an upright position and a storageposition. A pair of saddles 89, 89 are mounted on the sidewalls toprovide additional support for the spuds in their storage position.

It is deemed obvious that with the spuds in the storage position and theladder raised above the lower run of the track mechanism 21, that thedredge can then be -driven over land. It has been found that a dredgebuilt in accordance with the present invention is quite mobile even overrough land and can climb very steep inclines, if necessary. In thismanner, then, the dredge can be easily moved over land to a body ofwater to perform a dredging operation or from one site of use to anothersite. It is also deemed obvious that the dredge is ready for thedredging operation simply by moving the spuds to the upright position,lowering one spud to anchoring position, and lowering the ladder.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, there is illustrated a particularlyvadvantageous mechanism for moving the spuds and spud carriers from thestorage position to the upright position. As previously described, thespud 50 is supported by spud carrier 52. The spud carrier includes abody portion 92, and upper sleeve 93 surrounding the spud 50, and asimilarly arranged lower sleeve 94. The body 92 has a pair of plates 95and 96 pivotally mounted on a generally horizontal shaft 97 which issupported on the rear deck 17.

As seen in FIG. 5, sleeve 93 has a plurality of inwardly extendingmembers 98 spaced along the inner periphery thereof. These members 98provide bearing surfaces along which the spud 50 can slide as the spudis raised and lowered. In a similar fashion, sleeve 94 is provided withspaced bearing surfaces for the same purpose. In this manner, frictionis reduced when the spud is raised or lowered.

A bracket 101 is secured to stern bottom plate 14 to engage the spudcarrier 52 in its upright position. Bracket 101 is provided with spacedfingers 102 and 103 at 0pposite sides of the body 92. The lingers 102and 103 are provided with aligned openings, as is the body 92, for thepassage of a pin 104 to lock the spud carrier in the upright position. Adrum is rotatably mounted on the rear deck 17 adjacent the spud 50 andspud carrier 52. A pulley 111 is rotatably mounted on shaft 97 adjacentplate 96 (see FIG. 3). A second pulley 112 is rotatably mounted on thebody 92 and aligned with pulley 111. The axis of pulley 112 isadvantageously at the level of shaft 97 when the spud carrier is in itsupright position. A cable 113 is secured adjacent the bottom of spud 50as at 114 and extends therefrom over pulley 112 and under pulley 111 todrum 110. A third pulley 115 iS conveniently mounted on shaft 97adjacent plate 95. A second cable 116 is secured adjacent the top of thespud, as at 117, and extends around pulley to drum 110. As can be seenin FIG. 5, the cables 113 and 116 are arranged for one to be unwound asthe other is wound when the drum 110 is rotated. A reversible hydraulicmotor 118 is provided for selectively reversibly rotating drum 110 toeither raise or lower the spud. Thus, when drum 110 is rotated to pullcable 113, spud 50 is raised. As used herein, raising of the spud 50 ismeant to be generic t0 movement of the spud relative to the spud carrier52 and includes movement of the spud 50 in the direction described evenwhen the spud 50 is in its storage position.

When the spud is in storage position, drum 110 may be rotated to pullcable 116 and extend spud 50 rearwardly. When the weight of the spudpasses the balance point, the spud and spud carrier will rotate aboutshaft 97. If the dredge is in fairly shallow water, the spud 50 will hitbottom before the spud carrier is engaged by bracket 101. Under suchcircumstance, pin 104 cannot be inserted, and the spud will not operateto anchor the hull. By reversing the motor 118, the spud 50 can beraised as heretofore described. At this point, raising the spud createsa force at pulley 112 to urge the spud carrier 52 toward its uprightposition. This is due to the particular arrangement of pulleys 111 and112 and the manner in which the cable 113 extends therearound. Thus,raising of the spud 50 urges the spud carrier 52 toward its uprightposition so that pin 104 can be inserted to lock the spud carrier at theupright position for proper operation of the spud.

FIG. 6 illustrates the hydraulic system utilized in the presentinvention. As shown, a reservoir R is provided for holding a quantity ofhydraulic fluid. A pump P, conveniently driven from motor 30, withdrawsuid from the reservoir through conduit 120 and supplies fluid throughsupply conduit 121. A bypass valve V is provided in bypass line 122 toreturn fluid to the reservoir. A return conduit 123 also leads to thereservoir. Reversible hydraulic motor 68 for driving cutter 66 isconnected to lines 124 and 125. These lines are selectively andreversibly connected to supply conduit 121 and return conduit 123through a three-position Valve 126. In a similar fashion, reversiblemotor 118 on rear deck 17 is connected to lines 127 and 128. Anotherthree-position valve 129 selectively and reversibly supplies lines 127and 128 to reversibly rotate the motor. A third reversible hydraulicmotor 118' operates to raise and lower spud 50. Similar parts aredesignated by the same number followed by the postscript prime andadditional description is deemed unnecessary. Ram 64 for raising andlowering the ladder 55, is connected to hydraulic lines 131 yand 132. Athree-Way Valve 133 supplies fluid to one side of the ram or the otherto perform this operation.

It is now deemed obvious that the present invention provides anamphibious dredge which is capable of selfpropulsion both over land andthrough the water. The

dredge is provided with bottom anchoring spuds and an advantageousapparatus for moving the spuds to upright position.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has herein beenillustrated and described, this has been done by way of illustration andnot limitation, and it is to be understood that various modifications instructure will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. An amphibious dredge capable of self-propulsion both over land andthrough water, and comprising: a ffoatable hull; a motor mounted on thehull; rst and second tracks respectively located on either side of thehull and each having a lower run at a level below the bottom of thehull; means selectively connecting the motor to the tracks for drivingthe tracks; grousers on the tracks for propelling the dredge through thewater and for engaging the ground when the dredge is driven over land; aladder swingably mounted at one end of the hull; means connected to theladder and to the hull for raising the ladder to a level above the lowerrun of the tracks when the dredge is driven over land and for loweringthe outer end of the ladder below the water line for the dredgingoperation; excavating means carried by the ladder for removing materialfrom below the water line; means selectively connected to the motor foroperating the excavating means whereby the same motor serves as primemover for both the tracks and the excavating means; at least one spud atthe end of the hull opposite the end at which the ladder is mounted; aspud carrier having an upright position foi supporting the spud forgenerally vertical movement relative to the hull to anchor the hull onthe bottom of a body of Water; and means for pivotally mounting the spudcarrier on the hull for movement between said upright position andanother position for storage of the spud generally overlying the hullwhen the dredge is driven over land.

2. An amphibious dredge as set forth in claim 1 wherein thelast-mentioned means defines a generally horizontal axis; and includingfirst Wheel means rotatably mounted at the axis, a second wheel meansrotatably mounted on the spud carrier and at a level no lower than thefirst wheel means when the spud carrier is in the raised position, andmeans attached adjacent the bottom of the spud and extending over thesecond wheel means and under the first wheel means, and means forpulling said last-mentioned means for raising the spud andsimultaneously applying a force at the second wheel means to urge thespud carrier toward the upright position.

3. An amphibious dredge capable of self-propulsion both over land andthrough water, and comprising: a hull; a motor carried by the hull;first and second tracks respectively located on either side of the hull;means selectively connecting the motor to the tracks for driving thesame; means on the tracks for engaging the water as the tracks aredriven to propel the dredge through the water and for engaging theground when the dredge is driven over land; a ladder having one endswingably connected to the hull for movement through a vertical arc, theladder having an outer end submergible for dredging7 means connected tothe ladder for raising the outer end to a level above the bottom of thetracks when the dredge is driven over land; a cutter mounted at theouter end of the ladder; a suction tube carried by the ladder and havingan inlet adjacent the cutter; a suction pump carried by the hull andconnected to the suction tube, said suction pump selectively driven bythe motor for operation when the cutter is operated, whereby the samemotor serves as the prime mover for both the tracks and the suctionpump; spud means in an upright position adapted to be vertically raisedand lowered relative to the hull for selectively anchoring the hull onthe bottom of a body of water, the spud means movable from said uprightposition to a storage position overlying the hull when the dredge isdriven over land; and spud carrier means on the hull for supporting thespud means in both positions.

4. An amphibious dredge as set forth in claim 3 including a generallyhorizontal shaft supported on the hull and pivotally mounting the spudcarrier means, first wheel means rotatably mounted on the hull, secondwheel means rotatably mounted on the spud carrier, means operativelyconnected to said wheel means and secured to the spud means for raisingthe spud means and simultaneously applying force at the second wheelmeans to urge the spud carrier means toward the upright position, andmeans for holding the spud carrier means in the upright position.

5. An amphibious dredge as set forth in claim 3 wherein the spud carriermeans includes a body pivotally mounted on the hull, first and secondspaced sleeves on the body at opposite ends thereof, said sleeves beinggenerally aligned and encompassing the spud means, and means on theinside of each sleeve providing a plurality of circumferentially spacedbearing surfaces adjacent the periphery of the spud means.

y6. In a dredging apparatus including a hull and a spud for anchoringthe hull on the bottom of a body of water, the improvement comprising: aspud carrier operative in an upright position to support the spud forgenerally vertical movement relative to the hull, means defining an axisfor pivotally mounting the spud carrier on the hull for movement betweenthe upright position and a storage position with the spud overlying thehull, first wheel means rotatably mounted on the hull, second Wheelmeans rotatably mounted on the spud carrier and spaced from said axis,means operatively connected to the wheel means and secured to the spudfor raising the spud and simultaneously applying a torque to the spudcarrier at the second wheel means to urge the spud carrier toward theupright position, and means for holding the spud carrier in the uprightposition.

7. The combination of claim 9 wherein the first wheel means comprises afirst pulley mounted for rotation about the same axis as the spudcarrier; the second wheel means comprises a second pulley; and the meansoperatively connected to the wheel means includes cable means securedadjacent the bottom of the spud and extending over the second pulley andunder the first pulley for raising the spud as the cable means ispulled, whereby when the cable means is pulled the first pulley rotatesin the same direction as the spud carrier rotates when moving from thestorage position to the upright position.

8. In a dredging apparatus including a hull and a spud for anchoring thehull on the bottom of a body of water, the improvement comprising: aspud carrier operative in an upright position to support the spud forgenerally vertical movement relative to the hull; a generally horizontal shaft on the hull for pivotally mounting the spud carrier formovement between said upright position and a storage position with thespud overlying the hull; means for holding the spud carrier in theupright position; first Wheel means rotatably mounted on said shaft,second wheel means rotatably mounted on the spud carrier; and meansoperatively connected to the Wheel means and secured to the spud forraising the spud and simultaneously applying force at the second wheelmeans to urge the spud carrier toward the upright position andincluding: a cable having one end secured adjacent the bottom of thespud and extending over the second Wheel means and under the first wheelmeans, a drum rotatably mounted on the hull adjacent the spud carrierand secured to the other end of the cable, and means for rotating saiddrum to pull the cable and raise the spud.

9. In a dredging apparatus including a hull and a spud for anchoring thehull on the bottom of a body of water, the improvement comprising: aspud carrier pivotally mounted on the hull about a generally horizontalaxis for movement between an upright position to support the spud forgenerally vertical movement relative to the hull and a storage positionwith the spud overlying the hull; rst wheel means rotatably mounted atsaid axis; second wheel means rotatably mounted on the spud carrier; acable having one end secured adjacent the bottom of the spud andextending over the second wheel means and under the rst wheel means; andmeans for pulling the cable to raise the spud and simultaneously applyforce at the second wheel means to move the spud carrier toward theupright position.

10. An amphibious dredge capable of self-propulsion both over land andthrough water, and comprising: a oatable hull; a motor mounted on thehull; first and second tracks respectively located on either side of thehull and each having a lower run at a level below the bottom of thehull; means selectively connecting the motor to the tracks for drivingthe tracks; grousers on the tracks for propelling the dredge through thewater and for engaging the ground when the dredge is driven over land; aladder swingably mounted at one end of the hull; means connected to theladder and to the hull for raising the ladder to a level above the lowerrun of the tracks when the dredge is driven over land and for loweringthe outer end of the ladder below the water line for the dredgingoperation; excavating means carried by the ladder for removing materialfrom below the water line; means selectively connected to the motor foroperating the excavating means; at least one spud at the end of the hullopposite the end at which the ladder is mounted; a spud carrier havingan upright position for supporting the spud for generally verticalmovement relative to the hull to anchor the hull on the bottom of a bodyof water; a spud carrier shaft for pivotally mounting the spud carrieron the hull for movement between said upright position and anotherposition for storage of the spud generally overlying the hull when thedredge is driven over land; a drum rotatably mounted on the hulladjacent the spud; a pulley rotatably mounted on the spud carrier shaft;a second pulley rotatably mounted on the spud carrier about an Cil axisgenerally parallel to spud carrier shaft, the second pulley axis beinggenerally at a level with the spud carrier shaft when the spud carrieris in upright position; cable means secured adjacent the bottom of thespud and extending over the second pulley, under the pulley on said spudcarrier shaft, and secured to the drum for raising the spud when thedrum is rotated in one direction; said second pulley and said cablemeans operative to apply a torque to the spud carrier to urge the sametoward its upright position when the drum is rotated in said onedirection; and means for holding the spud carrier in its uprightposition.

11. The combination of claim 10 including a third pulley rotatablymounted on the spud carrier shaft; second cable means carried by thethird pulley and secured to the drum and adjacent the top of the spudfor moving the spud downwardly as the drum is rotated opposite said onedirection; and means selectively operated by the motor for reversiblyrotating the drum to raise and lower the spud.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 635,798 lO/l899 Muehle 37-73927,680 7/ 1909 Roberts.

939,878 ll/l909 Urie, 1,822,965 9/1931 Gaskins 11S-1 2,271,344 1/ 1942Rauch 3'7-73 2,917,851 l2/l959 Ellicott 37-73 3,005,273 10/1961 Milne37-73 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 23,582 2/1931 Netherlands.

d ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner C. D. CROWDER, Assistant Examinerfggg@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3.L70 533 Dated October 7, 1969 Inventodwuw Robert I4. Soehnlen It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 39, claim 7, reference to claim "9" should be changed to6 because the claims were renumbered in the issued patent.

haH-U ANI- SEALED JAN 6 -4970 S`m. .I

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Ir. WILLIAM E SCHUYLER JR. Gomissioner ot Pat-Attestmg Offlcer en

